HMCS Haida Royal Canadian Navy Destroyer in Hamilton Ontario

We left Niagara Falls and drove to Hamilton, Ontario. We made it to the outskirts of the city and slept at Wal-Mart for the first time ever. It went really well and we were happy to have saved the money we would have spent on a campsite. At $40-$50 a site, it's fair to say that Ontario has the most expensive campsites in Canada.

Anyway, we were here in Hamilton. What is there to see in Hamilton anyway?

We're glad you asked because it turns out there is a really cool Parks Canada site in Hamilton, HMCS Haida. HMCS Haida is a Royal Canadian Navy Destroyer which you can explore for free this year thanks to the Parks Canada Discovery Pass.

There is lots of information on the history. The ship served from 1943-1963 and it was in WWII and the Korean War. Eventually, it was retired and turned into a museum.

It was quite the cold and wet day to be exploring the ship but still we were stoked to be there. Here is the view of Lake Ontario from the ship.

You are free to roam around the ship and they give you a little map to find your way around. Obviously, there are a few spots that are closed to the public but there is plenty to explore.

We were on the lookout for the answer to a trivia question the staff gave us. If we returned to them with the answer we were promised free stuff. We can't resist free stuff.

The living quarters are cramped on these destroyers. Suddenly sleeping in Wanderlust Jimmy didn't seem too bad at all. At least we only have to deal with each other. And this is where the officers slept, so more spacious than the rest.

We had to be careful not to slip going around the ship as it was pretty slick.

HMCS was called the "Fightingest Ship in the Royal Canadian Navy" because it sunk the most enemy ships. That is part of why it is now a museum.

We had to check out the big guns.

Imagine sharing this room with a bunch of other sailors all sleeping in hammocks hanging from the ceiling in this room that doubled as the mess hall.

There was a little store where the crew could buy some supplies.

That's a pretty big gun.

They even had some of those parks Canada red chairs that we have been looking out for across Canada.

We found the torpedos!

The captain definitely has the best room on the ship. His accommodations are pretty comfortable looking. A lot better than the hammocks.

We saw all sorts of rooms on the ship like the engineering room, and this room with all the communications equipment in it. We found the answer to the trivia question. It was something obscure but I can't remember what the question was.

We got our stuff though.

That's it for our tour of the ship! If you are ever in Hamilton be sure to check out HMCS Haida as it is very cool. You'll have fun exploring like we did. What other opportunity are you going to get to go on a WWII era destroyer?

If you enjoyed this post then stay tuned for more of our cross Canada road trip. We are going to eat at lots more vegan restaurants, we go to tons more Canada Parks and the fun never stops with our time camping in our vehicle Wanderlust Jimmy.Continue reading.... Toronto, Take Me to Your Vegan Pizza!

What a cool tour to experience! The hammocks in the sleeping quarters is interesting. Can't imagine how it must have felt while you are at sea and trying to sleep. That's like double the sway. :D Congratulations on winning the trivia! ;)

I totally relate to how you must have felt. I've been to the HMS Belfast defence ship as well as Cutty Sark merchant ship in London. Its always just awe inspiring to imagine the bygone era when they sailed and fought wars.

She looks to be in good nick for such a veteran. I love exploring these old ships, laid up and maintained by docents happy to talk about their ships, their battles, their crew. Close quarters, all warships, and it cannot have been a cruise ship life.

What an experience. The random stops that you took were all lovely. The ship is so huge and to sink into it's sheer magnificence is a great experience in itself. I have read your previous experiences as well, and this one definitely stands out as a unique one

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